My generator updated

March 2007;

The 2.2 kw generator is now nearly a year old and has several hundred hours on it. I run it once a week or so here at the house during the winter. This year, I'm going to have a video of how to install a generator at a cabin!

June 17, 2006

Well, my little 1000 watt generator blew out it's spark coil and I can't find a replacement. So, I bought a new one. This one has a 4 cycle engine, EPA/C.A.R.B certified.  I only have one photo of it, see below. I'll be testing this one next week, so check back. Read more about it in my diary. The need for a generator is something more and more people realize. From hurricanes to ice storms to alternative energy setups, electricity is one of the basic needs for both convenience and survival. We need to keep our foods cool, provide heat (some gas water heaters won't even run without electricity!) and hot water.

	Old generator. Turned out to be a P.O.S.
	New generator. Why are they all red?
	Front side of the line conditioner.
	I just use the 85db output all the time.

My new generator is produced in China (of course) by the JD engine company. This company was started in 1945 and produces over 1,000,000 engines a year that are sold in North America, Japan, Vietnam and other countries. Most of their medium sized engines are based on Honda engines (everything right down to the cylinder sleeve is a direct replacement). Their history and prices are what sold me on their product line. You can visit their homepage here.

POWER FACTORS AND HOW TO USE THEM!

I'll make it real simple. My old generator had maximum output of 1000 watts. Maximum long term load rating was 850 watts.

My battery charger was a 10 amp charger. Take the 10 amps, multiply the output voltage of it, 17 volts and you have 170 watts. The power factor of the unit was .2, so you take that 170 watts, divide it by the .2 and you have 850 watts. Add in the 40 watts I was also using in the cabin and bingo bango, I was using 890 watts of an available 850. The generator surged wildly, setting fire to a surge strip, burning out the charger and in the process burned itself out.

Now I'm using my good old reliable manual charger through a good power conditioner.

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